FRIED Pal

Fried Pal (1893-1976) was a Hungarian born artist (last name is FRIED).  After apparently studying painting in Budapest, he is thought to have moved to Paris.  This likely happened after the end of World War I, and it said that he studied at the Académie Julian, which is probable, given its good reputation.  Fried likely remained in Paris for quite a few years, possibly until the end of World War II, as many paintings of Parisian beauties seem to attest.  It is however unclear whether all his “Parisian” portraits were painted while he lived there.
It seems in his earlier years he diversified his subject somewhat, painting ballet scenes, various stage performers, women in the street, portraits, etc.  This diversity subsided, though it is unclear exactly when.  Fried Pal moved to the United State after World War II and seems to have continued to paint prolifically.  His talent which led him to a somewhat facile style, and which tended towards the commercial early on, can be said to have been properly wasted in later years.  An ever-changing variation of soft-core nudes became his trademark, and even his portraits of elegant women often seem quite vulgar.  As a printmaker he picked up etching technique somewhere along the way.  This could have been in Paris.  Some of his prints are very reminiscent of the etchings of Edgar Chahine.  The prints we have found are mostly orientalist in nature, or depict horses and Western life, two elements of Fried’s career which deserve more attention than most of his nudes and portraits.